Health Impact Stories

I'm Charles.

Caring for your parent or grandparent as they enter their final years can be a heart-wrenching experience. But that's precisely what our family had to do when my grandmother grew too ill to live on her own. So we moved her in with my parents, who cared for her needs—osteoporosis and failing eyesight—for the last nine years of her life.

Luckily, there was Samantha. Samantha worked for Family Eldercare—a nonprofit organization and United Way Capital Area partner agency whose mission is to provide care and service to the elderly so they might live as dignified and independent a life as possible.

Every week, Samantha would visit Grandma. They would sit together—chatting up a storm, laughing, swapping stories about grandchildren, playing games, and cooking fabulous meals for the family. Grandma adored her time with Samantha. "Samantha planted some snapdragons for me in the front flower bed," Grandma once chortled. "Colorful and full of life, just like her. She's a real character, you know."

The visits from Samantha also gave my parents time to run errands or just grab lunch and a movie—a relaxing afternoon that they both cherished.

Family Eldercare blessed us, allowing my mom and dad to keep Grandma in their home until the very end. For that gift, we are eternally grateful. And that's why I'm such a big believer in United Way: They invest in the people and organizations that make our community such a great place to live.

WHY UNITED WAY?
With the support of United Way Capital Area, Family Eldercare is able to devote full-time staff to folks like Charles' grandmother—helping provide them with the basic needs and emotional support they need to live a full and dignified life. Charles' family represents the real impact of United Way. After the experience with his grandmother, Charles led his company's United Way Employee Giving Campaign, joined the Board of Directors of Family Eldercare, and became an active member of United Way's Young Leaders Society.

At United Way, we're about helping people help people.

United Way is serious about privacy. In an effort to protect anonymity of the individuals featured, the names and images in this impact story are for illustrative purposes only.

Jack Sansing Dental Clinic

My name is John. I'm 41-years-old. And I'm HIV-positive.

I enjoy an intellectually active, self-sufficient life, but because of a musculo-skeletal disorder I have, certain activities are difficult to complete. Like brushing and flossing my own teeth, for example. For ten years I've received help from the Jack Sansing Dental Clinic, a program of AIDS Services of Austin. They've worked closely with me and my home healthcare assistants to make sure that, despite my challenges, I retain most of my own teeth. When faced with the need to treat my compromised teeth, the dental staff was able to perform limited dental restorations.

But it soon became clear that specialized resources were needed. Light sedation didn't work, as it reduced what voluntary control I did have, and so general anesthesia was the only safe option. Knowing that pediatric dentistry specialists also receive advanced training in the care of patients with significant physical handicaps, the team from Sansing sought the assistance of a local pediatric dentist.

In collaboration with a number of local agencies and an excellent dentist, the team arranged for me to receive comprehensive dental rehabilitation treatment under general anesthesia. They preserved all of my natural teeth. They even returned them to a condition that I can more easily maintain.

When I think of the people and groups that came together to help me, I can't help but smile.

The Impact of United Way Capital Area
Of the many ways United Way Capital Area is addressing the health needs of our community, dental care is one of the most exciting. Why? Because there is an enormous shortfall in community dental care for low-income and at-risk individuals, and because by providing even basic oral healthcare, people can avoid further complications and disease that arise from poor oral health. More intangible, though no less important, is the boost in confidence that comes with helping someone repair their smile.

United Way Capital Area is proud to be a key funder of the Jack Sansing Dental Clinic at AIDS Services of Austin.

United Way is serious about privacy. In an effort to protect anonymity of the individuals featured, the names and images above are for illustrative purposes only. Thanks to Darryl Gurecky, D.D.S. (Clinical Director - ASA's Jack Sansing Dental Clinic) for contributing to telling John's story.

I’m Alice.

My husband Howard and I built this house and lived in it together for more than 40 years. He passed away 10 years ago. Now it’s just me.

I knew the house needed repairs. But Howard always took care of things like that. I could see the roof was leaking. I had to struggle with a wrench to turn the faucets. There was a gas leak a while back and after that the gas was cut off altogether. The only way I could heat the house was with a little space heater.

Things got even worse when I had to spend some time in the hospital. When I got home, cooking and even standing were impossible. I needed help.

That’s when some nice folks from Meals on Wheels and More stepped in. Everyday at noon I know Emma’s going to be here with a hot meal. It seems like a little thing, but it’s the best part of my day. On her second visit she brought me some blankets and another heater. Now she’s got some friends from Austin Urban League fixing the faucets and the roof is getting patched. Some people are even building me a ramp up front. Our home is finally getting a much needed makeover. Howard would be proud to see how it’s coming together.

WHY UNITED WAY?
With the support of United Way, Meals on Wheels and More was able to leverage the appropriate resources and connections to solve a number of problems for Alice, from basic heating to accessibility to lonliness. United Way is committed to addressing the most pressing issues in Central Texas. We help organizations provide food, clothing, and safe shelter to those in need. We support groups that help people get well and stay healthy. And we’re dedicated to helping children and adults develop the skills they need to succeed on life. Alice represents the real impact of United Way. Because we’re about helping people help people. United Way is serious about privacy. In an effort to protect anonymity of the individuals featured, the names and images in this impact story are for illustrative purposes only.